Archive for June, 2012

It’s pretty obvious that 2011 was a breakout year for Jessica Chastain. Suddenly, this ethereal redhead seemed to be floating down every major red carpet, leaving us all asking – who is that girl?

We quickly found out: a poised starlet who can hold her own in films both artsy (Tree of Life) and mass-market (The Help) – and whose versatile, romantic style literally makes us weak in the knees. All that together make her oh-so crush worthy.

Most of us associate summertime with lazy weekends, laid-back outdoor get-togethers and wearing flip-flops 24-7 – or at least during waking hours. Summer is also synonymous with our favorite past time — the BBQ. This year we challenge you to take it up a notch.

This 4th of July, don’t just grill, make it an extraordinary event to remember. Choose a theme and party on in serious style.

Old School Clam Bake

Not in the mood for hot dogs and beer? Add a pinch of panache to your 4th by shelving the grill and hosting a clam bake. And don’t worry; you don’t have to dig the clams.

As the temperature keeps rising, the only thing I want to put on these days is… nothing at all, really. Once the forecast hits 85 degrees, it just seems damn near impossible to keep cool, no matter how little clothing one wears. So, I’ve been wearing the only item that feels close to going around in the nude: the sundress.

This sweet little design was practically made for those sweltering days when the most you want on your body is a slight piece of cotton. And, fortunately for us eco-friendly fashionistas, you don’t have to look too hard to find a sustainable version of this item of clothing. There are plenty of places to find sundresses made from organic, recycled, or sustainable materials, such as the four adorable options below.

1. American Apparel that bastion of simple cotton wear, now offers their classic summer dress in organic cotton and multitude of colors. You can’t see it, but it has an adorable criss-cross back.

Girls love things that smell delicious — perfumes, oils, good cooking and, of course, candles. Candles can set the tone, change a room, or create a fresh-scented atmosphere. But do you ever wonder just what you’re breathing in while they’re burning down? Is it just a sweet scent or it could be icky chemicals?

The remedy? Soy candles. I recently purchased these amazing soy candles from Etsy in an effort to refresh my living space. Perfectly scented, dye-free, and 100% soy, they’re filled into rustic 8 oz. Mason jars. These candles are made in small batches and hand-poured. Did I mention that they’re Vegan friendly? Check out my faves below.

Pink Sangria

Pink Sangria is a thirst quenching fragrance, made with Spanish sangria, Valencia orange, and tropical pineapple slices garnished with a Maraschino cherry on top.

To eat meat or not to eat meat, it’s a much-debated issue, even around our office. As a vegan myself, I often sing the praises of a plant-based diet – as do a slew of celebrities, many of whom I look up to as cruelty-free activists. But instead of listing them here – how many times do we have to tell you that Natalie Portman is veg, or that Alicia Silverstone lives a completely cruelty-free life? – I decided to compile my favorite fictional veggie munchers.

Here, the most entertaining vegetarians the big and little screens have to offer:

With famous pops Eric and ultra-famous aunt Julia, some might say that Emma Roberts was born to be a Hollywood star. Maybe, but one thing we know for sure is that this girl has talent, poise and style. Sweet faced and wholesome, she seems like the type of girl we’d be friends with, she also possesses a subtle yet playful fashion sense and some serious acting chops, making her our girl crush of the day.

As our operations coordinator, Rachel manages all of our makeup kits; the next time you snag a box full of all your favorite tarte products for one ridiculous price, send her a nod of thanks. As a former employee of Michael Kors, she brings a splash of honest-to-goodness couture-chic to our office. Obsessed with design, clean lines and minimalistic style, Rachel practices what she preaches. We stopped by her fastidiously sleek desk to find out which necessities made the cut for permanent residency.

Father’s day is right around the corner, tartelettes, and it’s time to give your pops some props. To make shopping for dad a little easier this year, we took to some of the web’s finest retailers to cerate this fool-proof, pops-worthy gift guide. From shave kits to indoor grills, we’ve selected a handful of awesome gifts for dad — all under $200 dollars.